ABR News

#Bonas first-year students to showcase SBU 101 projects in Nov. 16 community conference

Nov 13, 2017 |

Members of St. Bonaventure University’s freshman class will showcase more than 100 projects that explore the theme “community” during a one-day campus conference Nov. 16.

The first-year students developed their projects in their SBU 101 class, where they analyzed this year’s All Bonaventure Reads text “Nobody” by Marc Lamont Hill in light of what they have learned about community from the course titled “Community of Learners.”

As part of the class they explored the nature and function of community as well as distinguishing characteristics of healthy and dysfunctional communities. As a culminating project, small teams of students developed presentations for the SBU 101 Community Conference. More than 100 groups will present their work, which includes short films, poster presentations, art pieces and slide shows, and addresses topics such as:

describing the effects of the war on drugs in U.S. communities

researching prison reform strategies

examining the impacts and recovery efforts from natural disasters in poor communities as compared to affluent communities

investigating oppression faced by the LGBT community

discussing the link between education and healthy communities

interviewing St. Bonaventure faculty, staff, and students to understand how community is experienced on campus

The presentations are scheduled for the following times and locations on Thursday, Nov. 16:

In the SBU 101 course, students developed their ideas for their conference presentations then submitted a proposal describing their project and what they hoped to learn. Proposals were evaluated by faculty and staff for constructive feedback. The students made changes and re-submitted a final abstract. This process, in addition to honing their projects, helped introduce students to an experience of academic conferences and abstract writing. The students will be evaluated on the following criteria: reflection on community, connection to All Bonaventure Reads text, evidence of learning, and quality of execution.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things. St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #5 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition.

ALL BONAVENTURE READS

St. Bonaventure has chosen “Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond” by Marc Lamont Hill as its common read for 2017-2018.

“Nobody” considers a string of high-profile deaths in America and incidents of gross negligence by the government.

To make his case, Hill recounts the details of tragedies like the death of Michael Brown and draws upon first-hand reporting and careful historical analysis to show how the “Nobody” class has emerged over time and how forces in America have worked to preserve and exploit this group in ways that are both humiliating and harmful.

"This is a book about what it means to be Nobody in twenty-first-century America. To be Nobody is to be vulnerable. In the most basic sense, all of us are vulnerable; to be human is to be susceptible to misfortune, violence, illness, and death. The role of government, however, is to offer forms of protection that enhance our lives and shield our bodies from foreseeable and preventable dangers. Unfortunately, for many citizens — particularly those marked as poor, Black, Brown, immigrant, queer, or trans — State power has only increased their vulnerability, making their lives more rather than less unsafe," writes Hill.

First-year students will receive copies of “Nobody” during orientation in July and are asked to read the book prior to the start of the fall semester. Students are engaged in conversations about the book’s themes in their SBU101 course and various campuswide events during the upcoming academic year.

The university will welcome Hill to campus Monday, Sept. 25, for the ABR 2017 Keynote Address.

More about Marc Lamont Hill:

Has received numerous prestigious awards from the National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Will join the faculty of the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University this fall as the first Steve Charles Chair in Media, Cities and Solutions.

Is the host of BET News and VH1 Live, as well as a political contributor for CNN.

Was named one of America’s 100 most influential Black leaders by Ebony Magazine.

Has been the Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at Morehouse College for the past three years.

About the Author

“Marc Lamont Hill proves once again why he is one of the leading voices on race in America. With its fresh insight and careful on-the-ground reporting, Nobody is a powerful call to action that gives a voice to our most vulnerable communities. As with anything Hill writes, this book is essential reading.”

— Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress

Provost's Essay Contest

As their first official college assignment, members of St. Bonaventure's Class of 2021 have been asked to read this year's All Bonaventure Reads selection and then write a reflection on it.

Winners will be invited to a dinner with author Marc Lamont Hill and have their work published.